Clinical short-term results of radiofrequency ablation in patients with liver metastases from colorectal cancer

Stereotactically-navigated percutaneous Irreversible Electroporation (IRE) compared to conventional IRE: a prospective trial

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to compare CT-navigated stereotactic IRE (SIRE) needle placement to non-navigated conventional IRE (CIRE) for percutaneous ablation of liver malignancies.

Materials and Methods. A prospective trial including a total of 20 patients was conducted with 10 patients in each arm of the study. IRE procedures were guided using either CT fluoroscopy (CIRE) or a stereotactic planning and navigation system (SIRE). Primary endpoint was procedure time. Secondary endpoints were accuracy of needle placement, technical success rate, complication rate and dose-length product (DLP).

Results. A total of 20 IRE procedures were performed to ablate hepatic malignancies (16 HCC, 4 liver metastases), 10 procedures in each arm. Mean time for placement of IRE electrodes in SIRE was significantly shorter with 27 ± 8 min compared to 87 ± 30 min for CIRE (p < 0.001). Accuracy of needle placement for SIRE was higher than CIRE (2.2 mm vs. 3.3 mm mean deviation, p < 0.001). The total DLP and the fluoroscopy DLP were significantly lower in SIRE compared to CIRE. Technical success rate and complication rates were equal in both arms.

Conclusion. SIRE demonstrated a significant reduction of procedure length and higher accuracy compared to CIRE. Stereotactic navigation has the potential to reduce radiation dose for the patient and the radiologist without increasing the risk of complications or impaired technical success compared to CIRE.

Complications of intraoperative radiofrequency ablation of liver metastases

BACKGROUND

Intraoperative radiofrequency ablation (IRFA) of liver metastases can be used to treat patients with complex tumours that are unsuitable for parenchymal resection alone. This systematic review assesses the frequency, patterns and severity of complications associated with this procedure.

METHODS

We carried out a bibliographic search on MEDLINE focused on IRFA for liver metastases, excluding hepatocarcinomas, and on intraoperative use, excluding percutaneous application.

RESULTS

Thirty papers published between 1999 and 2007 were analysed. They covered a total of 2822 patients and 1755 IRFA procedures. The indications and techniques for IRFA differ from those for percutaneous treatment, as do associated results and complications. Specific complications associated with IRFA, such as liver abscesses, biliary stenoses and vascular thromboses, are directly correlated with the indications and associated procedures. Published results should be interpreted with caution as IRFA can be used alone or combined with parenchymal resection.

CONCLUSIONS

Specific complications related to IRFA are rare, especially for lesions of <35 mm in size located far from a main biliary duct, when additional septic procedures are not used. A lesion-by-lesion approach based on the benefit : risk ratio should therefore be used in the process of making surgical decisions. Combining resection with IRFA leads to higher morbidity, especially in difficult patients with numerous bilateral lesions, but may be necessary to achieve R0 (microscopically negative margins) outcomes.

American Society of Clinical Oncology 2009 clinical evidence review on radiofrequency ablation of hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer

PURPOSE

To review the evidence about the efficacy and utility of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer (CRHM).

METHODS

The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) convened a panel to conduct and analyze a comprehensive systematic review of the RFA literature from Medline and the Cochrane Collaboration Library.

RESULTS

Because data were considered insufficient to form the basis of a practice guideline, ASCO has instead published a clinical evidence review. The evidence is from single-arm, retrospective, and prospective trials. No randomized controlled trials have been included. The following three clinical issues were considered by the panel: the efficacy of surgical hepatic resection versus RFA for resectable tumors; the utility of RFA for unresectable tumors; and RFA approaches (open, laparoscopic, or percutaneous). Evidence suggests that hepatic resection improves overall survival (OS), particularly for patients with resectable tumors without extrahepatic disease. Careful patient and tumor selection is discussed at length in the literature. RFA investigators report a wide variability in the 5-year survival rate (14% to 55%) and local tumor recurrence rate (3.6% to 60%). The reported mortality rate was low (0% to 2%), and the major complications rate was commonly reported to be between 6% and 9%. RFA is currently performed with all three approaches.

CONCLUSION

There is a compelling need for more research to determine the efficacy and utility of RFA to increase local recurrence-free, progression-free, and disease-free survival as well as OS for patients with CRHM. Clinical trials have established that hepatic resection can improve OS for patients with resectable CRHM.

Current status of sonographically guided radiofrequency ablation techniques

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this article was to review the current clinical applications of sonographically guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) techniques.

METHODS

Publications regarding RFA extracted from a computerized database (MEDLINE) and from references cited in these articles were reviewed to evaluate the clinical effect and patient outcome.

RESULTS

Radiofrequency ablation has shown some promising effects in the treatment of tumors in various parts of the body. The recent advances in RFA technology enable larger volumes of treatment and make RFA clinically practical. It is most often used for hepatic and renal tumors, and applications for other organs and structures are increasing and rapidly developing. Sonography provides a convenient way to guide and monitor the procedure in most situations.

CONCLUSIONS

Effectiveness of RFA in the treatment of tumors in various body parts has been achieved. Radiofrequency ablation should be considered as an alternative or complementary method in the integration of oncologic management to obtain the greatest benefit to patients.